OMG these Glee spoilers coming out of today’s Comic Con in San Diego are CRAZY.
It looks like graduating Gleeksters Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith may come back for Season 4 after all! FOX OK’d a spin-off for Rachel and Kurt, but the producers are leaning against it.
Plus, TV Line’s Mike Ausiello must feel vindicated. He’s moderating the Glee panel today. And as it turns out Chord Overstreet IS LEAVING GLEE FOR GOOD, like he originally reported.
“Chord Overstreet will not be back this fall — at all. According to Falchuk, Overstreet was offered a deal to return for 10 episodes with an eye towards becoming a series regular at midseason, but the 22-year-old actor declined.” Bye Chord.
But here’s the craziest bit of news to come out of the panel. While series co-creator said unequivocally in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, that graduating seniors would not return to Glee for Season 4, fellow producer, Brad Falchuk is now pulling a complete about face:
“Here’s the exact thing: [Rachel, Kurt and Finn] are seniors, so they’re graduating, ” Falchuk explained, “but because they’re graduating doesn’t mean they’re leaving the show. If you have Lea Michele under contract, you don’t say, ‘We’re gonna let you go.’” Plus, he noted, “A number of the original [cast members’ characters] are not graduating this year.”
Falchuk reiterated, “It was never our plan or our intention to let them go…. They are not done with the show after this season.”
So what’s the deal with the backpedaling? I’m thinking that FOX read the THR interview and basically blew a gasket. Losing 3 of the most popular characters on the series could spell disaster.
If the graduating seniors stay on, does this mean Rachel and Kurt won’t go off to college? Those two are meant to leave Lima, anything else would not make sense for their characters. Or will there be a parallel story line going on in another city? Diluting the original point of the series with a bunch of messy story lines would also suck.
Best case scenario would have been a spinoff series, which FOX did OK. But, for whatever reason, the producers don’t want to move forward with that idea anymore. Oh, and Falucuk admits all that stuff in the finale about Rachel, Kurt and Blaine moving to NYC was a spinoff plant.
More spoilery updates from the panel via @TVGuide and @UltimateGleeks @gleeks, Digital Spy:
Sitting on the Comic Con panel today were series executive producer, Dante di Loreto, co-creators Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk, Choreographer Zack Woodlee, Movie director, Kevin Tanchearoen, Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Darren Criss (Blaine), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) and Dot Marie Jones (Coach Beiste).
Brad Falchuk says they are leaning against a spin off with Rachel and Kurt but FOX DID okay one. “It was weird when Chris Colfer was saying he heard on Twitter about him not coming back, because we hadn’t talked to him about it since March.”
Falchuk: “If you watched the finale last season, Broadway was something we were planting as a possibility because we were exploring it.”
Tina and Artie getting back together? Tina and Mike are doing just fine.
Falchuk: “We’re going to meet Mike’s parents. His parents will have opinions on what he should do with his life.”
Tina is a junior, not a senior. “The opening sequence is everybody saying what they want to do when they grow up, so you see everyone’s anxieties.”
On finally meeting Rachel’s dads: “I think soon we’ll reveal more and more.” There was a scene in season 1 with Rachel’s dads, but it was cut. Idina Menzel will return as Rachel’s mom.
They’re good, they’re solid… they’re two stars so there will be problems, but they’re not breaking up. — Falchuk on Klaine.
Kurt+Blaine news? “They’re kind of in the honeymoon phase, ” says Darren Criss “I’m a big fan of Klaine”
Is Blaine joining New Directions? “You have to tune in.”
Will Blaine be developed more this season? Brennan: “Yes.”
Karovsky’s sidekick probably won’t be coming back “We switched off on him. We don’t even know if he’s coming back next year.” says Falchuk.
Mercedes will have a new boyfriend in the premiere that she met over the summer
Mercedes’ boyfriend is a “big bubba” kind of guy, “very encouraging” — Brad Falchuk
Dot Marie Jones will be back next season. “We have some great stuff for her.”
Brittany/Santana storyline started as a goof, but then became something much deeper and we are proud of it – Brad #glee #sdcc
Tribute episode: Falchuk – “We talked about it. If it’s going to happen, it will happen in the second half of the season. We really do want to spend some real time with the characters in the first nine, ten episodes.”.
Falchuk says the first nine episodes will focus on the run-up to Sectionals.
#glee movie will allow you to get a glimpse of characters backstage
“Always the story first. The song can then fuel that” – Brad
“The stories that are coming out are gonna knock your socks off. It’s gonna be the most extraordinary season.” – Dante di Loreto
Coach Sue is running for Congress. Brennan: “Sue’s running for congress. Ken died of a heart attack.” Flachuk: “She’s taken destroying Will and the Glee club on a local level, now she’s taken it to a national level. Sue’s running on a ‘no arts’ platform.”
Showrunners think Finchel is a “FANTASTIC” couple and they really hope to explore their relationship this season.
Writers are taking time to carve out longer character arcs this year, says Falchuk
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#GLEE OFFICIALLY starts filming Season Three on August 8th!
